Pet rats are pretty comfortable in most home situations. They are great pets for families with children, and they are relatively easy to take care of. However, if you live in rental accommodations, check with the owner of the building. Some landlords harbour some strange beliefs about pet rats, and it’s best to avoid a conflict before it happens.
Your basic enclosure for your rats will probably be either a cage or an aquarium tank. Wire cages with solid floors are best. For adult rats, a cage designed for a ferret or a Guinea pig will be the right size. Of course, Guinea pig cages will only work if the top is enclosed, and not all of them are. Unlike Guinea pigs, rats can climb very well. Remember: Rats are intelligent. You’ll be amazed at what they can escape from. If you choose a fish tank, be sure the screen cover attaches securely. Also, be sure to clean it thoroughly a few times a week. Glass tanks don’t have good ventilation, and ammonia build-up from your rats’ urine will make a tank a very unhealthy place in just a few days.
The bedding materials you choose for your rats can make the difference between a long, healthy life for your pets and a short, sickly one. It’s that important. Avoid any bedding made from softwood. Cedar shavings, spruce shavings, and pine shavings are all bad. Birch is bad, too. Never, ever use them in your pet’s enclosures. Instead, choose paper-based cat litters, shredded paper, paper towel, non-clumping corncob litter, or aspen shavings if you must use wood. Clumping litters should be avoided for the same reason they should not be used for kittens: sometimes litter gets swallowed, and clumping litter expands in the stomach.